How to delete or anonymise your account

What this guide is about

If you no longer want to be part of the Online Community, you have two options:

• Delete your account: Deleting your account means deleting all your content and personal details.

• Anonymise your account: Anonymising your account means your content remains on the forum but all your personal details and account information is anonymised.

This guide will help you choose the best option and explain how to download your posts before deleting your account.

Download your posts before deleting your account

If you want to keep a copy of your posts before deleting your account, follow these steps:

1. Click on your profile icon in the top right-hand corner of the page, then click on the grey person icon you will see a menu item called Preferences.

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2. Scroll down and click Request archive.

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4. A box will then appear asking you to confirm if you want to download it. Click Yes.

5. And then click OK.

6. You’ll receive a system notification when the file is ready to download.

6. Click on the system notification.

7. Then click on the blue ZIP file link to download your data.

How to delete your account

You can delete your own account if you have made 1 post or less. If that applies to you, you can do it yourself by following these steps:

1. Click on your profile picture in the top right.

2. Then select the grey person icon and then click Preferences.

3. Scroll down and click Delete Account.

4. A popup will then appear asking you to confirm that you would like to delete your account. Click the Delete My Account button to confirm.

How to delete your account if you have more than one post

If you have 2 or more posts, you cannot delete your account yourself, but we can help.

Option 1: Delete your account (removes everything)

What this means:

• Your profile, personal details and account data will be permanently deleted.

• Your username and posts will no longer appear in the Online Community.

• This action cannot be undone, so be sure before making your request.

Option 2: Anonymise your account (removes your name, keeps your posts)

What this means:

• All your personal details (name, email, profile information) will be permanently anonymised by the system, removing any identifiable information from your account.

• Your username will be replaced with a randomly generated one, such as "anonymous56966" or "anonymous67890".

• All your posts and comments will remain visible in the community, but they will no longer be linked to your identity.

• This action cannot be undone, once your account is anonymised, we cannot restore your original username or details and you will not be able to log in to that account.

How to request account deletion or anonymisation

If you’d like to proceed with either option, please contact the team through the Service desk with your request. Let us know whether you prefer full deletion or anonymisation. If you would like to join the Online Community again, you will have to create a new account.

We are sorry to see you go, but hope the time you have spent on the Online Community has been helpful. 

Have a question?

If you’re not sure about something, you need more help, or if you’d like to share your feedback, please contact us through the Service Desk.

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This guide is reviewed every 6 months to make sure it's up to date.